Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-04
A CHECKERED CAREER.

Lannie NcAfee-s Tragic Act at Min
ncapOlis Yesteriay--An Expert with
the Cue Attempts to Take His Own
Life.
Lannie McAffee, the famous billiard
player of Davenport. jumped from the
third story window at rs Washington
avenue south, at Minneapolis, at 1926
last evening, crushing his skull, breaking
his left arm, and otherwise injuring him
self. He cannot live. He was suffering
from kidney trouble and had been made
delirious by an overdose of bromide
This will be startling news for the
many friends of Lannie in this city and
vicinity, where he was known SO we'll
He was here only few weeks ago on q
visit to his mother across the river, and
was then feeling and looking better than
he had for years. Little did his mother
or those with whom he talked of old
times then think that ne would come to so
terrible an end in the near future.
LannIe McAffee was bora in New
Brunswick, Ont. in 1856 When but a
lad his parents moved to Detroit and there
Lannie learned to play billiards, the game
in which he became expert and gave
promise of outrivaling or at least equaling
the greatest player OF the world Ia 1873
DIR. McAtfee came with his family to Day
export and Lannic soon easily vanqushed
all of the local players. In 1915, at the age
Of nineteen, he entered the amateur bill
lard tournament to decide the cham
pionship of the northwest lie came
out fourth in that contest aud old bills
lizard players and expert critics picked
him out As the coming great one with
the cue. They were enthusiastic over his
wonderful skill and predicted great
things for him when he should have
gained mole practice and the steadiness
of age. They were to be disappointed
Tor he spoiled all prospect of a great ca
reer by dissipation From that time he
grew worse and wandered about the
country only coming home occasionally
to see bis plreuts He had dog which
be took everywhere with him, and be
tween which and its master the strongest
ties If affection were established. The
dog was wonderful in its intellect. and
when Iaunie was 81 much under the
influence OF intoAIratton that he could
not entertain his friends with the cue,
the dog wul}d amGSe everybody with its
wonderful tricks, and then guard it,
master until he was able to take care OF
himself. Once ar twice McAifee was
locked up for intoAica;ion, aud the dog
was always permitted to he locked up in
his cell with him. The dog travelled all
about the Country with him. They were
two wanderers. yerljable Roger ant
|. \ few wears ago Lannic gave hi.
truthful old companion to friend
in Davenport with the understanding
that the anlmll should be we'll cared for
as Iong as it lived The dog is toothIes,
ard almost blind aud deaf with years,
but remembers many OF It's old trick.
| yet About five years ago L4nnie':
father died, but his mother to ward whom
he always felt the tcndercst regard con
tinued to live at Davenport, and he al
ways called it home.
Nearly two years ago Lauuie stoppef
drinking entirely and had been strictly
temperate ever since. lie stopped be
| cause he knew that he could not stant
dissipation longer \ year ago he went
to Minneapolis and was soon given charge
of the billiard rooms If the West hotel o
that city. and has continued ther,
since He received good salar,
for the posltion-S25 Il week, boar,
and washing. kept straight and ha,
the confidence of his employers.
The news of his injury was broken Il
his mother, who lives in Davenport, las
night She was Frustrated with grief 70
a time. She left for Minneapolis on TIN
mornings train hoping to see her so
| oItyn